The Artemis II crew will experience a communications blackout lasting roughly 40 minutes when their spacecraft passes behind the Moon at approximately 23:47 BST on Monday. During this period, radio and laser signals connecting the four astronauts to mission control in Houston will be blocked by the Moon itself, leaving the crew in complete isolation from Earth.
Artemis pilot Victor Glover has expressed hope that the world will use this time meaningfully, encouraging people to pray and send positive thoughts for the crew’s safe return. The experience of losing contact during lunar missions is not unprecedented. More than 50 years ago, Apollo astronauts faced similar communications blackouts. Apollo 11’s Michael Collins notably experienced a 48-minute loss of contact in 1969 while orbiting the Moon alone in the command module. Collins later described the experience as peaceful and tranquil, offering respite from constant mission control communications despite the profound isolation.
Back on Earth, the communications blackout will be a tense period for those monitoring the mission. The Goonhilly Earth Station in Cornwall has been tracking the Orion capsule throughout its journey and feeding positional data to NASA. According to Matt Cosby, Goonhilly’s chief technology officer, the station will experience nervous anticipation during the blackout before celebrating when contact resumes and the crew’s safety is confirmed.
Meanwhile, plans are underway to eliminate such communication gaps in future lunar operations. The European Space Agency’s Moonlight programme aims to deploy a network of satellites around the Moon to provide continuous coverage, including on the far side. Such infrastructure will prove essential as space agencies establish permanent lunar bases and intensify exploration efforts.
During their time behind the Moon, the Artemis astronauts will dedicate their attention to lunar observation, capturing images and studying the Moon’s geology. Upon re-establishing contact with Earth, they will share their observations and remarkable views with the world.
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